Government made a mistake in Chinese New Year SOP, claims Ti Lian Ker

Astro Awani
February 5, 2021 11:40 MYT

Lian Ker in a recent post on his Facebook account said the list released by the National Security Council must be withdrawn and replaced with a revised version. BERNAMA file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is accused of making "mistakes" in the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) for next week's Chinese New Year celebrations.

Deputy Minister of National Unity, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker in a recent post on his Facebook account said the list released by the National Security Council (MKN) must be withdrawn and replaced with a revised version.

However, the MCA vice-president did not elaborate on the mistake that he is referring to, neither gave any suggestions for revision.

He only included a note detailing the SOP, which among others prohibit families from returning home for a two-day vacation, visiting each other or gathering for dinner with the family celebrated on Chinese New Year.

Instead, the list says the government only allows families living in the same house for dinner to commemorate the occasion.

On Thursday, Senior Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government only allowed the 'big gathering/dinner' within the family of the same household, as well as prayers conducted at home in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations on February 11 and 12.

However, he said, performance and cultural activities such as lion dance, dragon, lantern and chingay parade as well as Chinese opera performances were not allowed.

The latest SOP received various reactions on social media from the people.

.@IsmailSabri60 says that CNY Reunion dinner is only allowed for those who stay in the same house. Errrr... sane people call that regular dinner, not CNY reunion dinner. At least allow families in the same district / area to gather for CNY reunion dinner lah (Max 10 o 15 pax)
— Ong Kian Ming (@imokman) February 4, 2021

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Meanwhile, Bangi Member of Parliament, Ong Kian Ming via Twitter explained that the meaning of a big gathering/dinner for those living in the same house by Ismail only means a normal dinner and not

a special Chinese New Year meal.

This CNY #SOP is a joke. Family living in same district can visit each other now. During CNY it is banned. We can reunion dinner now, but not during CNY. Lets wait for the U-turn again!
— SimTzeTzin (@simtzetzin) February 4, 2021

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Sim Tze Tzin also echoed the similar opinion that the Chinese New Year SOP announced by the government did not make any sense.

CNY SOP is a joke. Reunion dinner seisi rumah = literally normal family dinner. Their idea of ziarah = knocking on each room door since it's seisi rumah too? We also don't really watch Chinese opera. @MCAHQ can you please advise PN to have some cultural awareness zzz
— Lim Yi Wei (@LimYiWei4MY) February 4, 2021

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Meanwhile, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei stressed that MCA should advice the Perikatan Nasional government (PN) to have cultural awareness on the issue.

On Thursday, Iskandar Puteri DAP MP Lim Kit Siang claimed that the Chinese New Year celebration SOP was the latest evidence of the government's failure to formulate approaches and strategies involving the "whole government" and "the whole community" in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.

He also called for it to be withdrawn and replaced with a new SOP that is more sensitive to the needs to regain the trust, confidence, and support of the people.

#Chinese New Year #Malaysia #Lim Kit Siang #Muhyiddin Yassin #ismail sabri yaakob #COVID-19 #SOP #MCA #DAP #Perikatan Nasional #ti lian ker #National Security Council #MKN #Ong Kian Ming #Sim Tze Tzin #LIM YI WEI